United States · United States Congress · 11 February 1998
Abolishing Child Pornography Act - Amends the Federal criminal code to prohibit and set penalties for knowingly possessing any material (currently, three or more items) containing: (1) any visual depiction involving a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct, in the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, on any land or building owned by, leased to, or otherwise used by or under U.S. Government control, or in Indian country; and (2) child pornography that has been mailed, shipped, or transported, including by computer, in interstate or foreign commerce.
United States · United States Congress · 11 February 1998
Prohibits construction of any monument, memorial, or other structure on the parcel of Federal land located south of Rosslyn, Virginia, and north of the Arlington National Cemetery that is bounded on the west by Meade Street, on the north by Arlington Boulevard (U.S. Route 50), on the east by Jefferson Davis Highway (Virginia Route 110), and on the south by Marshall Drive (site of the Iwo Jima Memorial). Exempts from application of this Act: (1) the United States Marine Corps (Iwo Jima) Memorial and the Netherlands Carillon; and (2) the construction, reconstruction, or repair of below-grade utility facilities, including sewer, electrical, water supply, and communications facilities. Allows an individual to bring a civil action in the appropriate U.S. district court against any person (including the United States) to enforce this Act. Directs the Secretary of the Interior, upon receipt from the Chairman of the Air Force Memorial Foundation of adequate documentation of design expenses associated with the United States Air Force Memorial proposed to be located on the parcel, subject to appropriation, to transfer to the Foundation such amount as the Secretary finds necessary to fully reimburse the Association for all site specific design expenses incurred by it prior to September 17, 1997, with respect to such proposed memorial. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 11 February 1998
Bars the expenditure of funds received by the Federal Government as a result of Federal legislation implementing any portion of a national tobacco industry settlement to create, maintain, or expand Federal programs unless such expenditures are specifically authorized by the terms of such legislation. Prohibits the expenditure of funds received by the Federal Government as a result of any State settlement to create, maintain, or expand Federal programs. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to disburse such funds (in excess of those spent on programs specifically designated to receive funds by such legislation) to provide tax relief, restore borrowed trust fund accounts, and reduce the national debt as follows: (1) one-third to be invested in marketable Government securities and held in a Tax Cut Offset Trust Fund for use as the Congress directs to offset future revenue reductions; and (2) two-thirds to exchange any special issue nonmarketable Government bonds in the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund or the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund with marketable Government securities. Requires the Secretary, when such Funds no longer hold nonmarketable Government securities, to direct that the two-thirds allocation be used to exchange special issue nonmarketable Government securities with marketable securities in the Highway Trust Fund. Directs the Secretary to use such allocation for repayment of the public debt when all Government trust funds no longer hold nonmarketable Government securities. Declares that, notwithstanding any law except the Line Item Veto Act, the receipts and disbursements of all funds not to exceed the value of those referred to in this Act shall not be counted as new budget authority, outlays, receipts, or deficit or surplus for purposes of: (1) the Federal budget as submitted by the President; (2) the congressional budget; or (3) the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act). Exempts such receipts and disbursements from any statutory general budget limitation on expenditures and net lending (budget outlays) of the U.S. Government. Directs the Secretary, upon expenditure from a Government trust fund of any money not so counted, to sell a corresponding amount of marketable Government securities from the trust fund and reduce the fund balance accordingly.
United States · United States Congress · 11 February 1998
Declares that the House of Representatives: (1) strongly urges the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a national public awareness campaign regarding colorectal cancer risk, preventive screening options, and the importance of early detection; and (2) encourages the Secretary, in designing and carrying out the campaign, to work closely with groups having colorectal cancer expertise.
United States · United States Congress · 11 February 1998
Expresses gratitude for the courage and sacrifice of the brave men, including current Congressman Sam Johnson of Texas, who were held as prisoners of war during the Vietnam conflict. Urges States and localities to honor such courage and sacrifice with appropriate ceremonies and activities. Declares that the House of Representatives will continue to press for a final accounting of the more than 2,000 members of the U.S. armed forces who remain unaccounted for from such conflict.
United States · United States Congress · 5 February 1998
Designates the United States Post Office located at 297 Larkfield Road in East Northport, New York, as the Jerome Anthony Ambro, Jr. Post Office Building.
United States · United States Congress · 4 February 1998
Prohibits the President from waiving certain requirements of the Trade Act of 1974 for nondiscriminatory treatment (most-favored-nation status), the prohibitions of the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945 on aid to Marxist-Leninist countries, specified requirements of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 for insurance, reinsurance, financing, or other services by the Overseas Private Investment Corporation with respect to Vietnam. Nullifies any previous waiver of such requirements and prohibitions.
United States · United States Congress · 4 February 1998
Prohibits the President from waiving certain human rights and emigration requirements under the Trade Act of 1974 before July 11, 1999, with respect to Vietnam when determining its eligibility to receive nondiscriminatory treatment (most-favored-nation status). Nullifies any previous waiver of such requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 28 January 1998
Holocaust Victims Insurance Act - Requires any person engaged in the insurance business in the United States directly or through a related company during the period 1920 to 1945 to report to the Secretary of Commerce within 90 days of the enactment of this Act on the current status of the insurance policies issued during such period. Imposes a civil penalty upon any person who does not file a report. Directs the Secretary to immediately upon receipt transmit such reports to the House and Senate Committees on Commerce. Requires a person engaged in the insurance business that determines that it issued insurance policies to individuals who were Holocaust victims to pay to the beneficiaries or descendants of the victims the proceeds of such policies. Encourages strongly any such person who does not have records of the individuals to whom it issued life insurance policies during the period 1920 to 1945 to establish a substantial monetary fund to compensate Holocaust victims. Requires the Secretary to report to the House and Senate Committees on Commerce on the number of individuals who were Holocaust victims who held life insurance policies during the period 1920 to 1945. Directs the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum to develop a registry of those who died in the Holocaust which shall be made available to the public, including insurance companies preparing a report under this Act. Authorizes appropriations. Prohibits any action brought by a Holocaust victim or heir or beneficiary of a Holocaust victim seeking proceeds of such policies issued or in effect between 1920 and 1945 from being dismissed for failure to comply with the applicable statute of limitations or laches provided the action is commenced on or before December 31, 2010.
United States · United States Congress · 27 January 1998
Thomas Cole National Historic Site Act - Establishes the Thomas Cole National Historic Site in New York State as a unit of the National Park System. Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to: (1) acquire specified lands and interests within the Site's boundaries and personal property associated with and appropriate for the interpretation of the site; (2) enter into cooperative agreements with the State of New York, the Thomas Cole Foundation, and other public and private entities to facilitate public understanding and enjoyment of the lives and works of the Hudson River artists through activities related to the preservation, interpretation, and use of the Site and with the Greene County Historical Society to provide for the establishment of a library and research center at the Site; and (3) display, and accept for display, works of art associated with Thomas Cole and other Hudson River artists. Directs the Secretary to: (1) administer the Site in accordance with this Act and all laws generally applicable to units of the National Park System; and (2) develop and submit to specified congressional committees a general management plan for the Site, including recommendations for regional wayside exhibits. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 27 January 1998
Tax Code Termination Act - Prohibits the imposition of any tax by the Internal Revenue Code: (1) for any taxable year beginning after December 31, 2001; and (2) in the case of any tax not imposed on the basis of a taxable year, on any taxable event or for any period after December 31, 2001. Excepts the: (1) tax on self-employment income (chapter 2 of the Code); (2) Federal Insurance Contributions Act (chapter 21 of the Code); and (3) Railroad Retirement Tax Act (chapter 22 of the Code). Declares that any new Federal tax system should be a simple and fair system.
United States · United States Congress · 27 January 1998
Marriage Protection and Fairness Act of 1998 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to authorize a married couple to file jointly using unmarried tax rates (the tax being the aggregate of the two individually taxed incomes).
United States · United States Congress · 27 January 1998
Requests that the U.S. Postal Service issue a commemorative postage stamp in 1999 in honor of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 13 November 1997
Elects Representative Vito Fossella to the Committee on Banking and Financial Services and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House.
United States · United States Congress · 13 November 1997
Calls for Sara E. Lister, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, to resign from office or, in the alternative, be removed from such office by the President.
United States · United States Congress · 9 November 1997
Parents and Teachers Know Best Act of 1997 - Repeals the Goals 2000: Educate America Act and the National Skill Standards Act of 1994. Directs the Secretary of Education to make grants to requesting State educational agencies, which shall distribute grant funds to local educational agencies according to a specified formula, for: (1) technology related to the implementation of school-based reform programs, including professional development to assist teachers to use such equipment and software; (2) acquisition and use of instructional and educational materials related to such reform programs; (3) education reform projects, including effective schools and magnet schools; (4) programs to improve the higher order thinking skills of disadvantaged elementary and secondary school students and to prevent students from dropping out of school; (5) literacy programs for student and adults, including parents; (6) gifted and talented programs; and (7) school improvement programs or specified activities under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 9 November 1997
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) increase the low-income State housing credit ceiling amount; and (2) provide for a cost-of-living adjustment for such amount.
United States · United States Congress · 9 November 1997
Provides for appointment of a committee of two Members of the House of Representatives to inform the President that the House has completed its business of the session and is ready to adjourn.
United States · United States Congress · 8 November 1997
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose a 20 percent tax on the taxable earned income of every individual. Bases such amount on the standard, charitable gifts, and residence interest deductions. (Replaces current income tax procedures for individuals.) Increases the basic standard deduction and includes an additional standard deduction (limited to dependents only), with inflation adjustments. Limits the deduction for interest paid on a home mortgage to the amount of acquisition indebtedness, with limitations. Replaces the current tax on corporations with a tax on every person engaged in a business activity equal to 20 percent of the business taxable income of such person. Makes the person engaged in the business activity liable for the tax.
United States · United States Congress · 7 November 1997
Multichannel Video Competition and Consumer Protection Act of 1997 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to direct the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to: (1) initiate, and report to specified congressional committees on, an inquiry on the extent to which a certain differential fee decision (relating to the per subscriber per month royalty fee for the retransmission of superstation and distant network signals by direct-to-home satellite service providers) constitutes an impediment to the development of effective market competition for multichannel video programming distribution; and (2) based on such inquiry, make necessary regulatory changes. Includes direct-to-home satellite services under provisions protecting telecommunications services from piracy. Prohibits any U.S. officer or employee from taking any action to implement or enforce the differential fee decision until 120 days after FCC submission of its report.
United States · United States Congress · 7 November 1997
Amends the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 with respect to specified land border provisions of the automated entry-exit control system.
United States · United States Congress · 7 November 1997
Sales Incentive Compensation Act - Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to exempt from minimum wage recordkeeping and overtime compensation requirements any employee in a sales position, if: (1) such position requires specialized or technical knowledge related to products or services being sold; (2) the employee's sales are predominantly to persons or entities to whom the employee has made previous sales or the employee's position does not involve initiating sales contacts; and (3) the employee receives a base compensation at a specified minimum rate and additional compensation based on sales attributable to the employee;(4) the employee's aggregate compensation based upon sales reaches a specified minimum level; and (5) the rate of annual compensation or base compensation for an employee who did not work for an employer for an entire calendar year is prorated to reflect annual compensation which would have been earned if the employee had been compensated at the same rate for the entire calendar year.
United States · United States Congress · 7 November 1997
Deadbeat Parents Punishment Act of 1997 - Amends Federal criminal law to prescribe criminal penalties (including mandatory restitution) for willful failure to pay child support obligations.
United States · United States Congress · 7 November 1997
Early Hearing Loss Detection, Diagnosis, and Intervention Act of 1997 - Mandates grants or cooperative agreements to: (1) develop statewide hearing loss early detection, diagnosis, and intervention networks; and (2) provide technical assistance to State agencies to complement an intramural program and to conduct applied research related to infant hearing detection, diagnosis, and treatment or intervention. Requires the National Institutes of Health to carry out research on the efficacy of new screening techniques and technology. Mandates coordination and collaboration. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 7 November 1997
Silk Road Strategy Act of 1997 - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize specified assistance, including humanitarian, economic, migration and refugee, development, security, and technical assistance to the South Caucasus and Central Asia countries to: (1) promote sovereignty and independence with democratic government; (2) assist in the resolution of regional conflicts; (3) promote economic cooperation and market-oriented principles; (4) assist in the development of infrastructure necessary for communications, transportation, and energy and trade on an East-West axis in order to build strong relations and commerce between those countries and the democratic, market-oriented countries of the Euro-Atlantic community; and (5) support U.S. business interests and investments in the region. Prohibits assistance to such countries (unless it is important to the U.S. national interest) if the President determines and certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that they: (1) are engaged in a consistent pattern of gross violations of internationally recognized human rights; (2) have knowingly transferred controlled missiles or missile technology to another country, or any equipment or technology that would contribute to the ability of such country to manufacture weapons of mass destruction (including nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons); (3) have supported acts of international terrorism; (4) are prohibited from receiving such assistance by specified Acts; or (5) have initiated an act of aggression against another state in the region. Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should use all diplomatic means to press for an equitable, fair, and permanent resolution to the conflicts in Georgia, Azerbaijan, and the civil war in Tajikistan.
United States · United States Congress · 7 November 1997
Recognizes the historic significance of the fiftieth anniversary of the reestablishment of the State of Israel. Commends the Israeli people for their achievements in building a new state and a pluralistic democratic society in the Middle East. Reaffirms the bonds of friendship and cooperation between the United States and Israel. Extends congratulations and best wishes to the State of Israel and her people for a peaceful, prosperous, and successful future.
United States · United States Congress · 6 November 1997
Amends the General Education Provisions Act to prohibit the use of funds provided to the Department of Education, or to an applicable program, to develop, plan, implement, or administer any national testing program. Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to establish a similar prohibition against use of certain funds (from the Fund for the Improvement Education) for any national testing program. Exempts from such funding prohibitions the Third International Mathematics and Science Study.
United States · United States Congress · 6 November 1997
Amends the Public Health Service Act (PHSA), the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and the Internal Revenue Code to require that, when an attending provider and the mother decide to discharge the mother or her newborn prior to specified minimum inpatient periods following delivery, the group health plan or insurer offering coverage provide coverage for timely post-delivery care in any of specified settings, as selected by the mother. Applies the requirement to coverage in the individual market under specified provisions of the PHSA.
United States · United States Congress · 5 November 1997
Requires the pay and benefits for members and civilian employees of the Capitol Police to be determined in accordance with a pay scale and benefit package established by the Capitol Police Board and equivalent to the package applicable to members of the Secret Service Uniformed Division. Makes such package effective only upon approval of the Committee on House Oversight and the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration.
United States · United States Congress · 5 November 1997
Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Act of 1997 - Authorizes the Director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance to: (1) make grants to States or units of local government to purchase armor vests for use by law enforcement officers; and (2) give preferential consideration to applications from jurisdictions that have the greatest need, a mandatory wear policy, and a violent crime rate at or above the national average. Sets forth provisions regarding matching funds and allocation of funds, State and local applications, and grant application renewal. Prohibits any State or unit of local government that receives financial assistance made available by this Act from purchasing equipment or products manufactured using prison inmate labor. Authorizes appropriations. Expresses the sense of the Congress that entities receiving assistance under this Act should, in expending such assistance, purchase only American-made equipment and products.
United States · United States Congress · 5 November 1997
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude distributions form an individual retirement account from inclusion in gross income to the extent that such distributions are used for charitable purposes.
United States · United States Congress · 5 November 1997
Waives provisions of rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives that require a two-thirds vote to consider a report from the Committee on Rules on the same day it is presented to the House with respect to resolutions reported by such Committee before November 10, 1997, to provide for the consideration or disposition of a bill or joint resolution (including any amendment, conference report, or any amendment from conference in disagreement thereon) that: (1) makes general appropriations for FY 1998; or (2) includes provisions making continuing appropriations for FY 1998. Makes it in order at any time before November 10, 1997, for the Speaker to entertain motions that the House suspend the rules, provided that the object of any such motion is announced from the House floor at least one hour before its consideration. Provides that, during the remainder of the first session of the 105th Congress, a resolution noticed as a question of the privileges of the House between November 4, 1997, and the adoption of this resolution shall have precedence of all other questions except motions to adjourn only at a time designated by the Speaker. Prohibits the Speaker from recognizing a Member other than the majority or minority leader to offer from the floor, or to announce an intention to offer, a resolution as a question of the privileges of the House.
United States · United States Congress · 4 November 1997
Amends rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives to repeal a provision that allows subpoenaed witnesses to choose not to be photographed or to give evidence or testimony during radio or television broadcasting of committee hearings.
United States · United States Congress · 4 November 1997
Sets forth the rule (closed) for the consideration of: (1) H.R. 2195 (products of forced labor); (2) H.R. 967 (denial of U.S. funds and visas for Chinese officials); (3) H.R. 2232 (international broadcasting to China); and (4) H.R. 2647 (activities of communist Chinese military companies and the People's Liberation Army of China). Sets forth the rule (modified closed) for the consideration of: (1) H.R. 2570 (admission of persons involved in population control policies in China); (2) H.R. 2358 (political freedom in China); (3) H.R. 2605 (international loans to China); (4) H. Res. 188 (missiles for Iran; and (5) H.R. 2386 (ballistic missile defense system for Taiwan).
United States · United States Congress · 31 October 1997
Iran Missile Protection Act of 1997 - Authorizes supplemental appropriations for FY 1998 for the Department of Defense for cooperative activities with Russia for determining: (1) the extent of Russian cooperation and assistance in the development by Iran of a ballistic missile capability; and (2) the technical nature of the Iranian missile threat. Requires a certification by the President to the Congress with respect to the information to be released by Russia before such funds may be appropriated. Prohibits the obligation of $3 million in FY 1998 cooperative ballistic missile defense projects with Russia until the President certifies to the Congress that the Russian Government is providing full cooperation with respect to the release of such information. Authorizes appropriations for the Navy theater-wide missile defense system to be used to accelerate the development of such system through additional testing and risk reduction. Authorizes additional appropriations for defense-wide research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) of specified missile defense sytems, radars, networks, and related activities. Authorizes appropriations for defense-wide RDT&E for support of the Israeli Arrow tactical ballistic missile defense system to be used to protect a U.S. ally in imminent peril. Directs the Secretary of Defense to report to the Congress on the Iranian ballistic missile threat in the Middle East and Persian Gulf regions.
United States · United States Congress · 31 October 1997
Employment Discrimination Award Tax Relief Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to expenses incurred and amounts received in connection with employment discrimination claims, to, among other things: (1) provide for the deduction of expenses incurred in pursuing such a claim; and (2) limit the tax based on income averaging for back pay received from pursuing such a claim.
United States · United States Congress · 29 October 1997
Disabled Sportsmen's Access Act - Amends the Sikes Act to direct the Secretary of Defense, in developing facilities and conducting programs for public outdoor recreation at military installations, to ensure that such recreational opportunities provide equal access for disabled veterans, military dependents with disabilities, and other disabled persons when topographic, vegetative, and water resources allow equal access without substantial modification to the natural environment. Allows the Secretary to accept the services of volunteers and donations of money and property in ensuring such equal access.
United States · United States Congress · 29 October 1997
U.S. Market Security Act of 1997 - Establishes the Office of National Security within the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to review and monitor securities offerings by foreign governments and by any entity the Office believes to be controlled by a foreign governmental unit. Requires: (1) the Office to report quarterly to certain congressional committees on the amount of securities offerings by foreign entities; (2) the Director of the Office to notify the SEC Chairman of any violation by such foreign entities; and (3) each Federal banking agency to report annually to certain congressional committees on the number of foreign banks operating in the United States that are believed to be controlled by a foreign governmental unit. Instructs the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation to report annually to the appropriate congressional committees regarding the extent of U.S. pension fund assets that represent interests in any foreign person or governmental entity. Directs the Secretaries of State and of the Treasury to: (1) negotiate agreements with U.S. allies to institute in them reporting requirements similar to those imposed by this Act; and (2) report to the Congress on such negotiations.
United States · United States Congress · 29 October 1997
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the Government of the People's Republic of China should stop the harvesting and transplanting of organs for profit from prisoners whom it executes and should be strongly condemned for such practice; (2) the President should bar from entry into the United States all officials of such Government known to be directly involved; (3) individuals determined to be participating in or otherwise facilitating the sale of such organs in the United States should be prosecuted; and (4) appropriate U.S. officials should interview individuals who may have knowledge of such practice.
United States · United States Congress · 28 October 1997
Helping Empower Low-income Parents (HELP) Scholarships Amendments of 1997 - Amends title VI (Innovative Education Program Strategies) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to allow any State that has enacted or will enact a law establishing a voluntary public and private school parental choice scholarship program in compliance with specified ESEA requirements to reserve an additional 15 percent from its annual title IV allotment for use exclusively for such parental choice programs. Requires State educational agencies, except in the case of such programs, to distribute 90 percent (currently 85 percent) of title VI funds to local educational agencies based on criteria which gives priority to low-income families and areas. Includes such parental choice programs among State and local uses of title VI funds. Requires such parental choice programs to be located in an area that has the greatest numbers or percentages of children: (1) living in areas with a high concentration of low-income families; (2) from low-income families; or (3) living in sparsely populated areas. Requires such programs to ensure that program participation is limited to families whose family income does not exceed 185 percent of the poverty line. Directs the Comptroller General to make contracts for annual evaluation of each parental choice program. Requires the Secretary of Education to reserve certain funds for such evaluations. Provides that title VI funds to establish a parental choice program shall be considered assistance to the student and shall not be considered as assistance to any school that chooses to participate in such program. Prohibits the Secretary from exercising any direction, supervision, or control over curricula, program of instruction, administration, or personnel of any school that chooses to participate in a parental choice program.
United States · United States Congress · 24 October 1997
Superfund Recycling Equity Act of 1997- Amends the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 to absolve persons (other than owners or operators) who arranged for the recycling of recyclable material from liability for environmental response actions. Deems transactions involving scrap paper, plastic, glass, textiles, or rubber (other than whole tires) to be arranging for recycling if the person who arranged the transaction demonstrates that the following criteria were met: (1) the recyclable material met a commercial specification grade and a market existed for the material; (2) a substantial portion of the material was made available for use as a feedstock for the manufacture of a new saleable product; (3) the material (or product to be made from the material) could have been a replacement for a virgin raw material; and (4) with respect to transactions occurring 90 days after this Act's enactment, the person exercised reasonable care to determine that the facility where the material would be managed by another was in compliance with Federal, State, or local environmental laws or regulations. Deems transactions involving scrap metal to be arranging for recycling if the person who arranged the transaction demonstrates that: (1) the criteria for scrap materials were met; (2) he or she complied with applicable standards regarding activities associated with the recycling of scrap metals; and (3) the scrap metal was not melted prior to the transaction. Deems transactions involving spent lead-acid, nickel-cadmium, or other batteries to be arranging for recycling if the person involved demonstrates that: (1) the criteria for scrap materials were met; and (2) he or she complied with applicable Federal environmental regulations or standards regarding such batteries. Makes the exemptions from liability under this Act inapplicable if the person: (1) had an objectively reasonable basis to believe at the time of the recycling transaction that the recyclable material would not be recycled or would be burned as fuel or for energy recovery or incineration or that the consuming facility was not in compliance with Federal, State, or local environmental laws or regulations; (2) had reason to believe that hazardous substances had been added to the material for purposes other than processing for recycling; or (3) failed to exercise reasonable care with respect to the management of the material. Makes such exemptions inapplicable if the recyclable material contained polychlorinated biphenyls in excess of 50 parts per million or any new Federal standard or if such material is an item of scrap paper containing, at the time of recycling, a concentration of a hazardous substance determined to present a significant human health or environmental risk.
United States · United States Congress · 24 October 1997
Taxpayer Protection Act of 1997 - Amends the Omnibus Taxpayer Bill of Rights to revise provisions concerning the evaluation of Internal Revenue Service (IRS) employees to prohibit the IRS from using records of tax examination or enforcement results (currently, records of tax enforcement results) to: (1) evaluate any IRS employee (currently, evaluate employees directly involved in collection activities and their immediate supervisors); or (2) impose or suggest production quotas or goals.
United States · United States Congress · 24 October 1997
Limits attorney's fees paid in connection with the settlement of a State action against one or more tobacco companies to recover tobacco-related Medicaid expenditures or for other causes of action involved in the settlement agreement dated June 20, 1997, to $150 per hour plus out-of-pocket expenses approved by the court. Prohibits the award of attorney's fees under any national tobacco settlement until the attorneys have: (1) provided to the Congress a detailed time accounting regarding the work performed; and (2) made public disclosure of such time accounting and fee arrangements. Requires each attorney whose fees are subject to this Act to submit to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees a comprehensive record of the time and expenses for which the fees are to be paid.
United States · United States Congress · 23 October 1997
Iran Missile Proliferation Sanctions Act of 1997 - Directs the President to report periodically to specified congressional committees on foreign persons (except those previously identified or sanctioned or subject to waiver) who, on or after August 8, 1995, have transferred, or attempted to transfer, controlled goods or technology, or provided, or attempted to provide, technical assistance or facilities that contributed, or would have contributed, to Iran's efforts to acquire, develop, or produce ballistic missiles. Requires imposition on such persons of minimum two-year sanctions prohibiting: (1) sales to such persons of items on the United States Munitions List (and terminating sales of any controlled U.S. arms); (2) the export to such persons of dual use goods and technology; and (3) the provision of U.S. financial assistance. Authorizes the President to waive such sanctions, with written justification to Congress, on the basis of U.S. national security or additional information demonstrating that the sanctioned person did not commit the acts alleged.
United States · United States Congress · 23 October 1997
Helping Empower Low-income Parents (HELP) Scholarships Amendments of 1997 - Amends title VI (Innovative Education Program Strategies) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to allow any State that has enacted or will enact a law establishing a voluntary public and private school parental choice scholarship program in compliance with specified ESEA requirements to reserve an additional 15 percent from its annual title IV allotment for use exclusively for such parental choice programs. Requires State educational agencies, except in the case of such programs, to distribute 90 percent (currently 85 percent) of title VI funds to local educational agencies based on criteria which gives priority to low-income families and areas. Includes such parental choice programs among State and local uses of title VI funds. Requires such parental choice programs to be located in an area that has the greatest numbers or percentages of children: (1) living in areas with a high concentration of low-income families; (2) from low-income families; or (3) living in sparsely populated areas. Requires such programs to ensure that program participation is limited to families whose family income does not exceed 185 percent of the poverty line. Directs the Comptroller General to make contracts for annual evaluation of each parental choice program. Requires the Secretary of Education to reserve certain funds for such evaluations. Provides that title VI funds to establish a parental choice program shall be considered assistance to the student and shall not be considered as assistance to any school that chooses to participate in such program. Prohibits the Secretary from exercising any direction, supervision, or control over curricula, program of instruction, administration, or personnel of any school that chooses to participate in a parental choice program. Provides that, for purposes of Federal tax laws or for determining eligibility for any other Federal program, a parental choice scholarship shall not be treated as income or assistance to the student or parents.
United States · United States Congress · 23 October 1997
Taxpayer Relief and Protection Act of 1997 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) reduce the individual income tax rates; (2) make the standard deduction on a joint return equal to twice the deduction of a single return; and (3) change the filing date for individual returns from April 15 to November 1.
![Official portrait of Rep. Solomon, Gerald B. H. [R-NY-22]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/s000675_200.jpg)